$23,000 in Scholarships Awarded to South Florida High School Band Students
Submitted by Diana Hanford
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — The South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble hosted its 12th Annual Youth Pride Band Concert and captivated the audience in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater on Sunday, February 26.
A highlight of the program was the scholarship presentation when 18 talented South Florida high school band students were awarded $1,000 individual scholarships. In addition to receiving a monetary prize, the students received invaluable musical mentorship, practicing for three consecutive weeks, and then performing, alongside veteran members of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble.
Maggie Stuteville, a student at Hollywood Hills High School was the recipient of the inaugural FLoatarama Youth Pride Band Soloist competition and received a $5,000 scholarship care of the FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund. A talented flutist, Maggie was invited to be a featured soloist at the South Florida Wind Ensemble’s upcoming Spring concert on May 13.
A signature program of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble, the nonprofit has distributed $182,000 in Youth Pride scholarship funds since 2012.
“With more people identifying as LGBTQ earlier in their lives, it is vital that we as a community continue to offer a safe space, protect adolescents from bullying and celebrate our diversity through the power of music,” said Adam DeRosa, board chair of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble.
The Youth Pride concert also featured several local school band directors who served as guest conductors and led the band through two incredible musical acts.
The South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble is grateful for the generous support from the following scholarship sponsors: Gary Bressler, Ken Breznay, Scott Clearwater and Chris Ambs, Mike Dager and Harvey Shapiro Stronger Together Fund at The Our Fund Foundation, William Davis and Dan Elmore, Adam DeRosa and John Garcia, Equality Florida, FLoatrama, Robert and Jackie Glass, Alain Ortiz and Len Strickland, Safe Schools South Florida, Larry Small and David Burba, Charles Stanley and Blake Velde and Brian Fisher.
For more information on upcoming performances or how to support the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble visit pridewindensemble.org, email info@pridewindensemble.org or call (954) 667-9228
